Oilers 3, Predators 2, OT

Associated Press

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - Chris Pronger's slap shot and the Edmonton Oilers' power play both clicked at the right time.

Pronger got Edmonton even in the third period and then scored 4:17 into overtime to lift the Oilers to a 3-2 victory Sunday over the Nashville Predators.

The defenseman netted both goals on the power play as Edmonton used three man-advantage tallies to win its second straight following a four-game losing streak.

"We want to keep teams back on their heels," Pronger said after the Oilers went 3-for-11 on the power play.

Ryan Smyth set a screen for Pronger's tying goal at 6:49 of the third and again for his winner on the Oilers' season-high 42nd shot at goaltender Tomas Vokoun.

Eighth-place Edmonton won three of four against Nashville to move to within four points of the Predators in the Western Conference postseason race.

"This is playoff hockey," Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish said.

Pronger, who logged 32:54 of ice time, and Smyth both played in the Olympics for Canada. They are trying to shake off the disappointing loss the defending champions suffered in the quarterfinals.

"The good thing about coming back and being in games right away is it kind of takes the focus off that," Pronger said.

Scottie Upshall had a power-play goal, and Paul Kariya also scored for the Predators, who lost their seventh straight road game.

Upshall batted in a rebound past Ty Conklin in the first period with Edmonton defenseman Jaroslav Spacek serving a double minor for an accidental high stick on Steve Sullivan.

The Oilers tied it at 1 when Ales Hemsky made a crisp pass to set up Smyth's team-leading 28th goal, his 15th on the power play.

"You can't win games if you're in the box all the time," Kariya said. "That's our problem. It's been our problem all year."

Conklin, making his second straight start, surrendered his second goal of the first period when Kariya tipped in Marek Zidlicky's point shot.

The Oilers put a season-high 19 shots on Vokoun in the second period but couldn't score as the Predators killed off four straight penalties. Vokoun, who made his 10th start in 11 games, stopped a pair of three-shot flurries and a rare rush from Georges Laraques.

"It's got to change within the room," Predators coach Barry Trotz said of the penalties. "Guys have to be disciplined and accountable. (Those) who aren't are messing with teammates."

Edmonton continued crashing the net in the third, and Pronger beat Vokoun to tie it 2-2 with a slap shot from the point on the Oilers' 10th power play.

"We didn't give up, we didn't quit, and we were rewarded for it," said Conklin, who hadn't started two consecutive games since Jan. 4-7.

Rem Murray, a forward who last played in the NHL on Jan. 5, 2004, with Nashville, signed a one-year contract with the Oilers and played on the fourth line. It is Murray's second stint with the team.

Murray, 33, almost had his career cut short after being diagnosed with cervical dystonia, a nerve disorder of the neck. He was sixth in scoring with Houston of the AHL this season with 11 goals and 35 points in 54 games.

"He gives us experience," MacTavish said. "He can play center, he can play the wing and he's a penalty killer."

Notes: To make roster space for Murray, the Oilers sent forward Brad Winchester to Hamilton of the AHL. ... The Predators are without C Yanic Perreault and D Mark Eaton for up to a month because of knee injuries. ... Oilers C Marty Reasoner took 30 stitches to his right ear but didn't miss any action after being hit by Pronger's shot in Edmonton's 3-2 win over San Jose on Friday.